BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2021
As we celebrate Black history month this year, let’s do something different.
Yes, we still want to recognize how great African Canadians and African Americans have contributed to society, but let’s look deeper at who they were. Let’s take a moment to think about what got them there. Let’s look at their character and not just the colour of their skin.
And of course, when we think about character, we think about leadership. And when I think about leadership, I think about courage.
CHARACTER
LEADERSHIP
COURAGE
Whether it is Carter G. Woodson, Frederick Douglass or even Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to receive an international pilot license, it is their character that we need to recognize not just the colour of their skin.
Carter G. Woodson
American historian
Frederick Douglass
American abolitionist
Bessie Coleman
American aviator
After all, even Martin Luther King said, “…let us be judged not by the colour of our skin but by the content of our character”.
“…not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
American minister and activist
So, this month, in an effort to look at things differently, let’s take Martin Luther King Jr.’s words to heart, and consider for a moment, Carter’s, Frederick’s and Bessie’s character more than their colour. And in particular when I think character, I think courage. When we take a look closer at many black historians, courage is the core of what they did and who they are. After all, could we have imagined what it would have been like for them to stand up for what they believed in or to tread into new territories that others that look like could not do so before? Could you have imagined the fear that they would have to go to bed with at night and that the resolve they would wake up in the morning to keep pushing on?
All I ask you is to consider their courage.
WE CHALLENGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT AND TO PUT INTO ACTION
So, when you think about Black History this month or for any month, for that matter, take a moment to think about, or discuss, or journey what courage looked like for any one we recognize as black historians. And I challenge you to think about and to put into action, steps that we can all take to harness our own leadership, our own courage to support others regardless of the colour of their skin and the content of our character.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or continue the conversation us on social media at @mycspn.
#BlackHistoryMonth #BHM2021 #TheFutureIsNow